Contemporary Bioethics: Catholic Wisdom for a Confused Culture

In this apostolic age, when Christians’ moral beliefs are opposed to those of the dominant culture, we must be prepared to present a countercultural, Christian vision in science, health care, politics, and everyday life. In few places is this clearer than in bioethics, the conscience of our technological civilization. Unfortunately, most lay faithful feel ill-equipped to witness to the ethical teachings of Christ in the world as it is, and new depths of knowledge, grace, and courage will be required of them.

In Contemporary Bioethics, nine interdisciplinary authors from medicine, law, theology, and philosophy empower readers to speak to contemporary issues from informed and reasoned positions grounded in the light of truth, including:

How historical intellectual dynamics led to contemporary cultural perspectives that reject the complementarity of men and women and deny the unitive and procreative nature of marriage.

How redefining one’s own existence by disassociating meanings from words such as existence, good and evil, and tolerance prevents societal improvement.

How free will, moral capacity, and natural law can help society discern a path toward the use of artificial intelligence that contributes to human development and overcomes serious harms of manipulating people and the environment for profit.

How Catholic social teaching is not politics or activism but an interior transformation of every person to live with love among others and to work for the well-being of every other person.

Using these insights as a roadmap, readers with an interest in the pressing issues presented here can better witness to the moral and ethical teachings of Christ and the Church in the world through personal conversations, community involvement, and civil engagement.

Marilyn E. Coors is an associate professor emerita of bioethics at the Center for Bioethics and Humanities at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.